Electric switchboard and template structure



May 29, 1928. C I 1,671,824

J. W. HOQLEY ELECTRIC SWITCHBOARD AND TEMPLATE STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 27, 1927 j o a 6 .9 .7 a o 7 /27; 6 L 6 o g; 7 a v I a a ,1 a. *E fl g A /J a /Z 6 g 7 7// g ZZUQ7ZZ07'..

7a7uz 20-15 50 This inventionrelates to the means for Patented .May 29, 1928.

JOHN w. HOOLEY, or naacnmom', New YORK. nnnc'rnic swrrcnnoaan AND TEMPLATE srauc'ruu.

Application filed September 27, 1927. Serial 80. 322,800.

With the above stated object in view, the

supporting electrical switchboards and the 'varlous devices and connections employed in connection with the switches, and has particular reference to the installations in buildings which employ a large number or wide range of devices which require a multiplicity of conducting connections. As explained in my former application Serial No. 136,717, filed September 20, 1926, and of which the present application is a continuation in part, it is customary in such installations as above referred to, to provide s'witchboards or panel boards of considerable height and to mount them rigidly in vertical position at such distance from the wall of the installation space as. to provide ample room at theback of the uprights for an electrician to perform his work of installation or 2 of making-repairs or changes in the electrical devices or connections, the switches themselves being carried by the other or front side of the uprights.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, the devices and conducting connections at the back of the uprights have been so relatively arranged asto present a maze which is neither neat nor workmanlike, the wires and other conducting elements crossing each other to such an extent as to cause a constant hazard of fire, besides ossessing the possibility .of mechanical or e ectrical injury to the members of the complete installations, either through a circuit grounding or trouble in one circuit affecting another circuit.

The principal object ofmy invention is to provide a. structure for the purposes explained, in which structure the crossing of -Wires can be completely eliminated and in which the connections of all conductors can beconveniently made with the binding posts, distributingibars, bus bars, circuit switches, fuses, etc. I attain'said object by providing certain plates or templates havin openings for cables or cable conduits, which openings are formed in the templates before the latter :are mounted in the positions which they are to occupy for use, so that the positioning of the conductors which are to 'pass through said openings is determined beforehand.

invention consists in the construction and after described and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an edge view of the same emcombination of parts substantially as hereinbodiment and indicating the switches and fuse mountings.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts orfeatures in both views.

Of the distributing boards or panel boards 1 there may be as many as desired and of'any preferred width. They are usually mounted edge to edge as indicated in Figure 1, the number depending on the requirements of any particular installation. Mounted on their front faces are switches 2 of any preferred type, said switches having circuit connections throu h the boardsor panels to bus bar confuctors 3 fixedly mounted on the rear face of the panel boards. The usual clips 10 for the casings 11 of the fuses project from the front faces 76 of the panel boards. Each lower clip 10 is connected by a conducting lug or couplin 4 at the rear of the panel with a cable 5 whlch is connected by a conduit fittin 6 with a conduit 7. The positioning of the conduits 7 is determined by openings in plates or templates 8 w ich constitute the important feature of my invention and the mounting and utility of which will presently be referred to more fully. a

The panel-or switch boards 1 are supported in any suitable way at the desired distance from the wall 6, as by means of suitable rods 9 reaching from the floor etc the ceilin c, with clips 12 connecting the boards and rods.

'In Figure 1 the bus bars3 are illustrated as-connected to suitable wiring 13 leadin through a conduit 14 which extends througfi a floor plate '15 similar to the floor tema plate 8, or which might be an extension of the latter.

Detailed description of what electrical de- VlCeS are connected by the several conducting elements illustrated and described is un- 18 necessary since the invention relates, as has.

been stated, to the templates 8 which are manufactured and positioned preparatory to the setting up or completion of theparticular installation required. The said templates 8, through which the conduits 7 pass, are illustrated as secured to the ceiling and floor of the room ,or compartment but which,

without departing from my invention, mightibe secured at more or less distance from the ceiling or floor,'or might be mounted on or near a side wall but still independent of the panel boards 1.

.ofthe required switchboard and the locations of the cable connections thereon.

The advantage of the templates 8 having openings in pre-selected locations is that the conduits will come through predetermined openings and will terminateso as to result ina neat and orderly and non-crossing relation between where the cables terminate from the conduits and the connections provided for on the switchboard. In other .words, every cable leaving or terminating at aswitchboard hasa connection arranged for it on the switchboard so that all crossing of cables at the rear of the switchboard is avoided. The function of the plates 8,

which may be of any approved material such as steel, asbestos, or fiber board, is to act as templatesjfor'the conduits 7. They steady said conduits and always maintain them and the fittings ,6 in such 1 positions.- relatively to the bus bars that no crossing of wires or conductors is ever required; and

'- connections or repairs can be made without waste or time or risk of causing any short circuiting or grounding.

Having now described my invention, '1 claim:

1. An electrical mechanism of the character described, comprising anupright having electrical appliances, on its front face,

electric conducting devices at. the rear of said upright, rigidly mounted templates permanently supported adjacent to said up right and independently thereof, -conduits extending through the templates, and con-- nections from said conduits to the said electric conducting devices.

2. An electric mechanism of the character desc iih d wmprising an upright having swltch devices on its front face, electric conducting devices at the rear of said upright, rigidly' mounted templates .pern1a nently supported adjacent the top and bottom of the space behind said upright and independent of said upright, conduits ex tending through the templates, and connections from said conduits to the said electric conducting devices.

3. The combination with. a switchboard panel having switches on its front face, of a plate having apertures coordinating with the switch-controlled members of the'panel, said plate being mounted in fixed position behind said panel and independently thereof, conduits in the apertures of said plate, and cables from said conduits to conducting devices at the rear of the panel.

4. The combination with a switchboard panel having switches on its front. face, of

upper and lower plates mounted independently of the panel above and below the space behind the panel, said plates having apertures positioned to accord with the conducting elements of the switches, conduits in the apertures of the plates, and cables from said conduits to conducting devices at the rear of the panel.

In testimony'whereof I have afiixed my signature. I 4

r J .OHN W. HOOLEY. 

